Wheeling Park has been the location for the annual Celebrate Youth Festival for the past 15 years and this year is no different. Thousands are expected to turn out on August 10, 2023, for free school supplies, food and a day of activities.
Celebrate Youth festival is organized by Youth Services System Inc. (YSS) as a way to give back to the community, celebrate youth before they return to school, and offer an opportunity for over 60 exhibitors in the Ohio Valley to share their resources. YSS will proved drawstring backpacks with school supplies, and lunch will be served starting at 11:30am.
In addition to the school supplies and information packets at the White Palace ice skating rink, YSS is expecting nearly 3,500 people to explore and utilize the beautiful, historic park. Visitors will be welcome top take a walk around the park on the Hofreuter Wellness Path, enjoy a dip in the Olympic-sized pool, enjoy the paddle boats on Good Lake, or they may decide just to try their hand at mini-golf and enjoy the free lunch.
“The event is more than just a free day at the park. For some, this is their vacation,” explained Tammy Kruse, director of development and public relations for YSS. “An opportunity to bring the family to a beautiful park, spend the day without worrying about the cost. Celebrate Youth Festival is a gift to local families as a fun way to end the summer.”
One of the crowd favorites, the Bubble Wagon, will be at the park from 10am – 4pm. Also, Jingles the Clown invited the Balloon Fairy from North Carolina to join the event to double the fun of twisting balloons.
“The Celebrate Youth Festival is a way for us to give back to the community that has been so good to us. Our goal when establishing this event was to assure that families have valuable information of resources available as their children start school,” insisted Jill Eddy, interim CEO of YSS. “It’s a day to celebrate each other and enjoy our beautiful park.”Eddy and Kruse wish to extend collective gratitude to the sponsors and contributors to the annual event, including Northwood Health System, Paree Insurance, Bordas & Bordas, Cornerstone, Hardy & Hardy
Media, Ohio County Commission, Marshall County Commission, The Health Plan, Unicare, Kiwanis Club of Wheeling, Bethlehem Apostolic Temple, Centre Wheeling Fellowship, Fourth Street United Methodist Church, and Roney’s Point United Presbyterian Church.
A complete list of sponsors can be found on Youth Services System’s Facebook page and exhibitor forms can be found at youthservicessystem.org.
